Hydraulic drive



July 22, 1947. EL F. coMsTocK 2,424,334

HYDRAULIC DRIVE Filed Feb. 10, 1944 5 sheets-sheet 1 d9, 2 Inventor [me/y/fCb/m ZUCK July 22, 1947. E. F. coMsTocK HYDRAULIC DRIVE Fi1ed Feb. 10, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor sha fmeryfi z'an ssoe/r IZL y 1947- I E. F. COMSTOCK HYDRAULI 0 DR IVE Filed Feb. 10, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jul 22, 1947.

HYDRAULIC DRIVE Filed Feb. 10) 1944 /wmq,

E. F. COMYSTOCK 2,424,384

5 Shets-Sheet 4 July 22, 1 947.

E. F. COMSTOCK 2,424,384

HYDRAULIb DRIVE Filed Feb. 10. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet5 (m'entor {Cams 2 00K [pre A om Wavy Attorneys tion taken on the line 3-3 of Patented July 22, 1947 HYDRAULIC DRIVE Emery F. Comstock, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor oi orig-halt to Walter V. Hallerman, Cincinnati, .0 o q Application February 10, 1944, Serial No. 521,834

My invention relates to improvements in hydrau'lic drives for use more particularly, although "not necessarily, between the engine and drive shaft of an automobile.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simply constructed, hydraulic drive of the fluid clutch type adapted for easy control to either reverse an automobile, throw the same into neutral, or automatically operate the same at variable speeds, all without the use of sliding gears.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved hydraulic drive, in its preferred embodiment,

Figure 2 is a view-in top plan,

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal sec- Figure 2, and drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 4 is a view in rear end elevation,

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, y 1

Figure 7 is another similar view taken on the line 'I-'l of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is still another similar view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3, and

Figure 9 is a view in side elevation of the rotor and driven shaft detached. e

Referring now to the drawings by numerals, l designates the casing of my improved hydraulic drive and which has the form; preferably, of a cylindrical shell 2 provided with a pair offront and rear end heads 3, 4 bolted, as at 5, to the ends of the shell. A- reduced diameter, cylindrical housing 6 extends from the front-head 3 concentrically thereof, and is bolted thereto, as at l, and provided with a circular front head 8 closing the same and forming a radial outstanding flange 9 provided with bolt' holes II) for receiving bolts II by means of which said flange may be fixed to the crankcase I2 of an automobile engine to align the housing 6 and casing I with the crank shaft, not shown, of said engine. The casing I forms an oil container and the housing 6 forms, together with the front head 3, a chamber IT for a purpose presently seen. A filler plug I3 is provided in the top of the casing I and an inspection aperture 3 Claims. (Cl. 74-1895) l6 closed by a detachable cover plate I5 and gasket l6. The rear head 4 is provided with a reduced axial housing I8 for gearing to be described.

A, drive shaft I9 extends axially through the housing 6 and'into the casing I to substantially the housing l8, and at its rear end is telescopically and rotatably fitted into the hollow front end of a driven shaft extending through the housing I8 into the casing I for a short distance and provided in said casing with a radial, circular end flange 2|. The drive shaft I9 is designed to be connected, in any suitable manner, to the engine crank shaft, not shown, and the driven shaft 26 for suitable connection to the drive shaft of the automobile. A suitable packing gland -22 for the drive shaft I9 is provided on the head 8, and a ball bearing assembly 23 adjacent the head 3. The rear end of the drive shaft I9 is mounted in a roller bearing 24 in the driven shaft 20. A ball bearing unit 25 for the driven shaft 20 is provided in the gear housing. The ball bearing assembly 23 is contained in a hub bushing 23a for the head 3 bolted to said head 3 as at 23b and extending into the shell 2. An oil sealing ring assembly 230 bolted'to said hub bushing 23a, as at 23d, closes the outer end of said bushing. I

In the casing I is a cylindrical, cage-like rotor 26 extending substantially from end to end of the casing and including disc-like front and rear ends 21, 28 adapted to rotate concentrically about the drive shaft l9, and a foraminous drum 29 suitably secured on said ends.

The ends '21, 28 of said rotor are suitably spaced from'the'heads 3, 4 for a purpose presently seen. The front end 21 of said rotor 26 is rotatably mounted on said hub bushing 23a by an anti-friction bearing assembly 30. The rear end 28 of said rotor 26 is provided with an axial sleeve 3| extending into the drum 29 and mounted, through an anti-friction bearing on said drive shaft l9. The rear end 28 of said rotor 26 is fixed to the flange 2I' of the driven shaft as by the bolts 33.

-A forward driving runner 34 of the usual dished type, with radial blades 35, such as shown in Figure 6, is loosely mounted by means of a sleeve-like hub 36 on the sleeve 3| of the rear end of the rotor 26 within the latter and for sliding movement on said sleeve or hub 36 toward and from said end 28 of the rotor '26. A yielding driving connection between said runner 34 and said rear end 28 of the rotor 26 is established by means of a circular,

radial flange 31 on said hub 36 opposed to said end 28, studs 38' on the flange 31 extending rearwardly through apertures 39 in said end 28 and supports said shaft I9 having nuts 40 on the outer ends thereof, and coil springs on said studs 34 interposed between said flange 31 and said rear end 28 of therotor. The studs 33 are preferably arranged in a circular series. The forward driving runner 34 has its open side facing forwardly, and the bladed section thereof is bolted, as at 42, to the flange 31. The purpose of the described yielding connection will presently appear.

A reverse driving runner 43, similar to runner an anti-friction bearing assembly 45 in said hub and surrounding said shaft IS. The reverse driving runner 43 is freely rotatable about the drive shaft IS. The mounting of said runner 43 on the drive shaft is such that the rotor is confined against'laterai movement on said drive shaft as by a collar 45.

Reverse driving gearing is interposed between the reverse driving runner 43'and the rotor 26 as follows: An internal ring gear 41 is formed on the front end 21 of the rotor 25. A relatively smaller external ring gear 48 forms part of the ",hub 44 of the reverse driving runner 43 and to which the bladed part of said runner is bolted, as at 49. Reversing gear pinions 50 are interposed between said ring gears 41, 48. The reversing gear pinions 50 are rotatably mounted on studs 5| on I a spider 50a keyed on the hub bushing 23a as at 50b, and secured thereon by a threaded collar 500 having set screws therein as at 50d. A sealing ring 50c closes the rear end of the'hub bushing A duplex impeller 52 is provided on the drive shaft i9 intermediate the forward driving runner 34 and the reverse driving runner 43 for shifting in opposite directions from a central intermediate position on said shaft into cooperating relation to either the runner 34 or the runner 43.

The impeller 52 comprises a pair of front and rear dished sections 53, 54, slmilar to the runners 34, 43, but oppositely facing and riveted, as at 55, 4g

to a central radialflange 5B of a sleeve-like hub 51 splined, as at 55, on the drive shaft is and also keyed to said shaft by means of a diametrical, internal key 59 extending througha longitudinal slot in said shaft l9.

Impeller shifting means are provided comprising the following devices:

A circumferentially. grooved collar 5| is slidably mounted on the drive shaft IS in the chamber H for lateral shifting from an intermediate position ing the collar and is slidably mounted on a fixed y guide 64 in the chamber H. A yoke-shifting lever is pivoted, as at 56, to said yoke 62 to extend laterally out of the housing 6 by way of a" longitudinal slot 81 and to be engaged with rear, front and intermediate edge notches B8, 69, Ill, respec- 65 V tively, of said slot to establish the forward and reverse drive-selecting positions of said collar and also its intermediate position. The collar ii is operatively connected to the key 59 of the impeller hub 51 to shift the impeller and by means of a diametrical pin H on the collar 6| extending through a longitudinal slot 12 in the drive shaft 15, and an endwise movable rod 13 suitably connected to said pin and to said key 59, the rod being which is hollow in part to provide a bore of the proper extent.

As best shown in Figure 3, the driven shaft 23 is provided, in the housing l3, with a worm gear 15 thereon meshing with a worm 15 in said housing having one end extended out of the housing for connection in the usual manner to the speedometer shaft, not shown.

Referring now to the operation of the invention,

with the collar 5! shifted opposite the rear notch Q 64, and the lever 65 engaged with notch 53, as

shown in Figure 1, the impeller 52 is shifted rearwardly on the drive shaft i8 into forward driving position to set the rear section 54 thereof into driving relation to the forward driving runner 34 with the necessary clearance so that under ope'r-.

ation of the drive shaft 19 a fluid clutch will be 7 established between said section and runner to transmit the drive from the drive shaft l3 directly to the drivenshaft 20 in the same direction through the studs 38, the rear end head 23 of the rotor 26 and the flange 2| of said driven shaft 20. The forward driving position of the impeller 52 is established initially by the rear end of the hub 25 51 abutting the hub 36, and inthis position of the parts, substantially no slippage occurs after high speed is attained under normal load on the driven shaft 20. However, under increase in load on said driven shaft 20, above normal, the described yielding oonnection, to wit, the studs 38 and springs 4| between the runner 34 and rotor 25 permit the runner 34 to move away from the impeller section 54 in degree proportionate to the increase in the load on the shaft 20 above normal 35 to thereby permit slippage between the section 54 and the forward driving runner 34 so that clutching conditions are obtained corresponding to second and low speeds in the usual automobile transmission, or to intermediate speeds, it being understood that the springs 4! are appropriately constructed.

When the collar Gljis in reverse drive setting opposite the notch 69 and the lever 55 is engaged in said notch, the impeller 52 is shifted forwardly to position the front section 53 thereof into cooperative relation with the reverse driving mm; 43. This position of the impeller 52 is established b engagement of the front end of the hub 51 with the hub 44 of the reverse driving runner o 43. Under the clutching relation established in this position of the parts, although the impeller 52 is rotating in the same direction as before, the driven shaft 20 is reversed relative to the drive shaft IS, the drive being transmitted from the drive shaft is through the front section 53 of the impeller 52, the reverse driving runner 43-, the before-described gearing, reversing the direction of rotation of the rotor 26 relative to that of said runner 43 and thus reversing the driven shaft 2|]. I

When the collar 6| is shifted opposite the notch 10, and the lever 65 engaged with said notch, the described impeller is shifted into an'intermediate position between the forward and reverse driving runners 34, 43, such that no fluid clutching action can obtain between the sections of said impeller and said runners.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without'departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the endwise movable in a bore I4 in the drive shaft i8 15 scope of the appended claims.

1 What I claim is:

1. In an hydraulic drive, a casing for containing fluid, a drive shaft extending into one end of said casing, a driven shaft extending into the other end of said casing, a pair of spaced-apart forward and reverse driving runners in said casing rotatable about the axes of said drive and driven shafts, respectively, a duplex impeller splined on said drive shaft intermediate said runners and laterally shiftable from an intermediate neutral position in opposite directions into cooperative relation to said runners selectively to establish a fluid clutch between the same and the selected runner, means to cause said pair of runners to drive said driven shaft in forward and reverse directions, respectively, when such clutching relation is established, and means to selectively shift said impeller, the first-mentioned means comprising a cage-like cylindrical rotor rotatable about said drive shaft and inclosing said runners and said impellers, a direct driving connection between the forward driving runner and said rotor, and reverse driving connections between the reverse driving runner and said rotor.

2. In an hydraulic drive, a casing for containing fluid, a drive shaft extending into one end of said casing, a driven shaft extending into the other end of said casing, a pair of spaced-apart forward and reverse driving runners in said cas ing'rotatable about the axes of said drive and driven shafts, respectively, a duplex impeller splined on said drive shaft intermediate said runners and laterally shiftable from an intermediate neutral position in opposite directions into cooperative relation to said runners selectively to establish a fluid clutch between the same and the selected runner, means to cause said pair of runners to drive said driven shaft in forward and reverse directions, respectively, when such clutching relation is established, and means to selectively shift said impeller, the first-mentioned means comprising a cage-like cylindrical rotor rotatable about said drive shaft and inclosing said runners and said impeller, a direct driving connection between the forward driving runner and said rotor, and reverse driving connections between the reverse driving runner and said rotor, said direct connections being yieldable and said forward driving runner being movable laterally of the impeller to permit variable spacing of said forward driving runner under variations in load on the driven shaft and variations in slippage between the impeller and said forward driving runner.

'3. In an hydraulic drive, a casing for containing fluid, a drive shaft extending into one end of said casing, a driven shaft extending into the other end of said casing, a pairof spaced-apart forward and reverse driving runners in said casing rotatable about the axes of said drive and driven shafts, respectively, a duplex impeller splined on said drive shaft intermediate said runners and laterally shiftable from an intermediate neutral position in opposite directions into cooperative relation to said runners selectively to establish a fluid clutch between the same and the selected runner, means to cause said pair of runners to drive said driven shaft in forward and reverse directions, respectively, when such clutching relation is established, and means to selectively shift said impeller, the first-mentioned means comprising a cage-like cylindrical rotor rotatable about said drive shaft andinclosing said runners and said impellers, a direct driving connection between the forward driving runner and said rotor permitting yielding of said runner laterally, and reverse driving connections between the reverse driving runner and said rotor.

EMERY F. COMSTOCK.

REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,551,055 Rieseler Aug. 25, 1925 1,552,194 Banning Sept. 1, 1925 1 1,593,473 Rieseler July 20, 192 6 1,987,985 Bauer Jan. 15, 1935 2,301,294 Kuhns Nov. 10, 1942 

